[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 123 (Thursday, September 13, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL DOT DAY

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                          HON. BRUCE L. BRALEY

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 13, 2012

  Mr. BRALEY of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend 
International Dot Day. This September 15th marks the annual celebration 
of International Dot Day, which encourages students' creativity by 
asking them to make their own unique mark on the world. This year's 
celebration will involve more than half of a million children in all 
fifty states and on six continents.
  International Dot Day was inspired by the children's book ``The Dot'' 
by Peter H. Reynolds. The book tells the story of a student named 
Vashti who doubts her own abilities as an artist until her teacher 
encourages her to make a single mark on the page. The single dot she 
creates in art class and her teacher's encouragement starts a journey 
of creativity and discovery for Vashti who goes on to inspire other 
students to be creative in their own ways.
  Mr. Speaker, creativity and genius are important attributes for 
students of all ages to pursue, and I applaud my constituent Terry 
Shay, an educator from Waterloo, IA, who founded Dot Day in 2009, to 
inspire his students to make their own mark. Mr. Shay has helped 
inspire other educators around the world to encourage their own 
students by sharing the message in Peter Reynolds' inspirational book.
  I would like to take this opportunity to officially recognize 
September 15th as International Dot Day, and I wish Mr. Shay and other 
educators well as they continue encouraging creativity in their 
students.

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